with whom it remained till that noble Lord resigned his high office.

But the private life of Lord Spencer was not less entitled to our admiration than his political career. Inheriting a splendid fortune, he spent it generously and rationally. It was his delight to collect around him the most distinguished literary and scientific men of the age, and to associate with them on terms of easy familiarity. The society of Spencer House will long be remembered. There the highest in rank, and the most distinguished in politics, literature, and science, were accustomed to meet. Sir Joseph Bankes, Sir Humphry Davy, Wollaston, Young, Hatchett, Reynell, Mackintosh, Rogers, and Marsden, were among the number who contributed to the attractions of that delightful society, which owed, however, much of its peculiar ease and charm to Lady Spencer, a lady of extraordinary information and talents, and who possessed the happy art of rendering her house agreeable to all her visiters, various as were their habits, manners, and pursuits. It is to be lamented that the houses of our nobility should not be more frequently devoted to such rational purposes. These re-unions are common in Paris, and exert a happy and beneficial influence on society at large. In this country they are unfortunately rare. Since the death of Lady Spencer, when Spencer House was closed, we believe that Holland House is now alone distinguished for society of this agreeable character.

In bibliographical knowledge Lord Spencer was justly considered equal to any man of his time; and the noble library which he collected at Althorp ranks among the most perfect and valuable of its kind in Europe. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, and was among the number who established the Royal Institution, of which he was chosen the first president, and continued so for many years. He was connected with many other societies; and wherever his patronage could be of use in promoting and extending literary or scientific knowledge it was liberally and munificently given.

After the death of Lady Spencer, he resided chiefly at

Althorp, in the bosom of his family - the pursuits of his early life had lost no part of their charm, and his active benevo lence found employment in promoting those local institutions which have for their object to relieve the distress of the industrious poor. It was his pride to see his tenantry prosperous and comfortable; and it is only a few years since that they presented him, as a token of their gratitude and respect, with a piece of plate, which is one of the ornaments of Althorp, and which this kind-hearted and excellent nobleman always regarded with peculiar satisfaction. For many years Lord Spencer had suffered severely from the gout, and as his strength declined these attacks became more frequent and more dangerous. The prospect of death never for a moment disturbed the serenity of his mind: his religion was Christianity in the truest sense of the word - entire reliance on his Redeemer, and charity to all mankind.

The Earl married, in 1781, the Honourable Lavinia Bingham, eldest daughter of Charles, first Lord Lucan, and by her had issue John Charles, Lord Viscount Althorp (now Earl Spencer); Lady Sarah, married to Lord Lyttleton; the Honourable Sir R. Cavendish Spencer of the royal navy, and K. C. H., who died in 1830; Lady Georgiana Charlotte, married to Lord George Quin; the Honourable Frederick Spencer, M. P., and captain in the royal navy; and the Honourable George Spencer, in holy orders in the church of Rome.

Surrounded by a family affectionately devoted to him, this venerable nobleman, after a short but severe illness, expired at Althorp, on Monday, the 10th of November, 1834.

:

" Lord Spencer," says one of his biographers, describing his character, " possessed a sound, vigorous, and reflecting mind; though enfeebled by age, and suffering from disease, he retained till his last illness the same clearness of intellect and soundness of judgment which distinguished him in the more active and brighter period of his life. Firm in his opinions, yet mild in asserting them, his opposition was never tinctured with acrimony, nor debased by personal invective.

:

Deliberate, but prompt, he was never wanting in decision and energy, when duty and principle demanded the exertion of these qualities; and his administration of the naval affairs of this country received the commendation even of his political opponents."

Though he took a decided line in politics, differed from many of his friends, and accepted office with his former opponents, yet such were his high character and stainless honour that the probity of his motives was never questioned by those who condemned his decision. In person Lord Spencer was tall; in his deportment eminently courteous, affable, and kind. His countenance was thoughtful, and could be severe; but in the circle of his family and friends it was lighted up with a benignity of expression which truly bespoke the benevolence of his heart. His habitual temper was in the highest degree cheerful, enjoying every thing - eager in all his pursuits, and delighted with witnessing the happiness of others.

He lived honoured and respected by all men, even in a country where the violence of party too often embitters the intercourse of private life. His memory will be revered by those who value the union of public principle and private worth; and the poor, the lowly, and the unfortunate will mourn the loss of a kind and generous benefactor.

From "The Atlas."

308

No. XXV.

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, Esg.

As the projector of the periodical work which bore, and which still bears, his name, Mr. Blackwood may well be considered a distinguished public character, under whose auspices the fame of Scottish genius has been carried to the remotest corners of the earth: as a man and a Christian, the memory of his many virtues will ever be cherished by all who enjoyed his private friendship.

William Blackwood was born in Edinburgh, on the 20th of November, 1776. Although his respectable parents were in a much humbler station of life than that which he himself ultimately occupied, he received an excellent early education; and it was his boyish devotion to literature which determined the choice of his calling. In 1790, when he was fourteen years of age, he entered on his apprenticeship with the wellknown house of Bell and Bradfute; and, before quitting their roof, largely stored his mind with reading of all sorts, but especially Scottish history and antiquities.

When he had been six years with Messrs. Bell and Bradfute he went to Glasgow to be manager for Mr. Mundell, then in extensive business as a bookseller and university printer. Mr. Blackwood had the sole superintendence of the bookselling department; and he always spoke of the time he spent in Glasgow as having been of the greatest service to him in after-life. Being thrown entirely on his own resources, he then formed those habits of decision and promptitude for which he was subsequently so remarkable. He also corresponded regularly with Mr. Mundell and his friends at home, - a usage from which he derived great benefit in the form

i

ation of that style of letter-writing, which, in the opinion of many competent judges, has seldom been surpassed.

Mr. Mundell, however, gave up business in Glasgow; and, at the expiration of a year, Mr. Blackwood returned to Messrs. Bell and Bradfute. In 1799 he entered into partnership with a Mr. Ross, which connection was, however, dissolved in a few years. He then went to London; and, in the shop of Mr. Cuthell, perfected himself in the knowledge of old books.

In 1804 Mr. Blackwood returned to Edinburgh, and commenced business on his own account, on the South Bridge, as a dealer in old books, in the knowledge of which he had by that time few equals. He soon after became agent for Murray, Baldwin, and Cadell, and also published on his own account; among other works "Grahame's Sabbath," " Kerr's Voyages," the "Edinburgh Encyclopædia," &c. In 1812 appeared his famous catalogue, consisting of upwards of fifteen thousand books in various languages, all classified.

For many years Mr. Blackwood confined his attention principally to the classical and antiquarian branches of his trade, and was regarded as one of the best-informed booksellers of that class in the kingdom; but on removing to the New Town of Edinburgh, in 1816, he disposed of his stock, and thenceforth applied himself, with characteristic ardour, to general literature, and the business of a popular publisher.

In April, 1817, he put forth the first number of " Blackwood's Magazine," the most important feature of his professional career. He had long before contemplated the possibility of once more raising magazine literature to a rank not altogether unworthy of the great names which had been enlisted in its service in a preceding age: it was no sudden or fortuitous suggestion which prompted him to take up the enterprise in which he was afterwards so pre-eminently successful as to command many honourable imitators. From an early period of its progress, his magazine engrossed a very large share of his time; and though he scarcely ever wrote for its pages himself, the general management and arrange